Primary Menu 22 Oct 2015

About Richard Duffin

As the consulting director, Richard Duffin draws on his extensive hair restoration experience with over 8 years expertise in the hair industry, having consulted outlets for an international company for hair loss. Richard having worked closely with many patients, and consulting on a daily basis has helped to achieve some of the very best results for many different forms of hair loss. Richard identifies a wide range of hair loss conditions and supports patients as they explore the best possible hair loss treatment approach for their specific case. He works closely with his specialized team ensuring that they are all trained to the exceptionally high standards that Hair Renewal Studio’s is known for. You can follow Richard on Twitter.

Author Archive | Richard Duffin

Traction Alopecia [Treatment and Prevention]

Traction Alopecia Definition

Traction Alopecia literally means hair loss due to traction (or pulling). It is a form of alopecia, or gradual hair loss, caused primarily by pulling force being applied to the hair. Whilst you may associate the work ‘alopecia’ with uncontrollable, devastating hair loss, the good news is that this type of hair loss is entirely within your control! You can not only stop it from occurring, you can prevent its ever returning, too!

Traction Alopecia Causes

Traction alopecia happens over time and It is commonly seen with certain hair styles or braiding patterns that pull the hairline forcefully towards the vertex of the scalp and has been reported more in African women, in whom it can cause scarring.

Men and women who have suffered from traction alopecia have found that the hair loss occurs most at the hair line- mainly around the temples and the sides of their heads.

Very tight pony tails, pigtails or buns

Tight braids or cornrows

Dreadlocks

Extension single braids

Hair weaves or wigs attached with glue, clips or tape

Certain hair clips, slides, or barrettes that hold the hair tightly and are worn in the same position every day

Chemicals, combination of too much pulling and the use of harsh relaxers and dyes.

If you use or do any of the above, then you may find that this has led to areas of thinning hair.

The constant tension in the affected area either pulls out the hairs roots completely, or causes the follicles to become inflamed. As time goes by the damage to the follicles causes them to become wasted away and if you don’t put a stop to the cause of the problem, they will reach the point where they no longer produce hair at all.

Traction Alopecia Symptoms

Does your scalp feels sensitive to touch when you undo your ponytail?

Letting your ponytail out is a relief to your scalp?

Having an itchy scalp after having your braids or a weave put in?

You have to take painkillers because your hair is secured so tightly?

These are all warnings your body is trying to tell you, that your hair and scalp is under major tension and strain. If you do not listen to these warnings you will notice that sections of your hair are actually missing, or very sparse.

Some people will even notice little blisters or pimples where the hair is under a lot of tension. This is a clear indication that the scalp just can’t cope with the strain.

How is Traction Alopecia Treated

Treatment for traction alopecia is only effective before you’ve arrived at the stage of permanent damage. The GOOD news is that the treatment if you have caught the condition early.

Some women find it difficult to maintain good scalp health because the weave or extensions make it awkward, unfortunately this can make the problem of the traction alopecia worse, that is why it is so important to use the correct products to ensure you maintain a healthy clean scalp.

In addition to removing the cause of the traction and stopping the use of chemicals in your hair, you may be tested for any bacterial or viral infection and possible be prescribed topical antibiotics or topical minoxidil to encourage growth.

There are natural procedures like Low Level Laser Therapy that if caught in early stages will stimulate the hair follicles and promote new growth, recovering the affected areas. The ideal solution is to undergo this treatment while allowing your hair to be completely natural, without using any kind of clips, slides or ties.

How to Avoid Traction Alopecia

Hold back the hair with a wide loose fabric hair band, nice and stretchy.

Braid hair loosely, you should be able to get your finger under the braid, bigger braids are better than lots of little ones

Change the location of your ponytail you don’t want the same tension in the same areas every day.

Avoid using clip in ponytails, they are heavy and the weight can literally pull out your hair.

Avoid rubber hair bands and never sleep with any bands or clips at night

[Hair Loss Demystified] What Millions of South African’s Don’t Know About Hair Loss

Day after day we help men and women of all ages, who suffer from hair loss. In this post I discuss a couple of very important things these people – and millions of others just like them – don’t know (but ought to know) about hair loss…

Does Menopause Cause Hair Loss?

Menopause is a natural biological process that all women experience at some point in their lives. During this time, the body goes through numerous physical changes as it adjusts to fluctuating hormone levels. Many women have unpleasant symptoms during menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. Hair loss is another common occurrence during menopause.

Hair loss tends to be subtler in women than it is in men. Most women experience overall hair thinning rather than noticeable bald spots. The thinning can occur on the front, sides, or top of the head. Hair may also fall out in large clumps during brushing and showering.

Research suggests that hair loss during menopause is the result of a hormonal imbalance. Specifically, it’s related to a lowered production of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help hair grow faster and stay on the head for longer periods of time.

When the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, hair grows more slowly and becomes much thinner. A decrease in these hormones also triggers an increase in the production of androgens, or a group of male hormones.

Androgens shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss on the head. In some cases, however, these hormones can cause more hair to grow on the face. This is why some menopausal women develop facial “peach fuzz” and small sprouts of hair on the chin.

For women going through menopause, the cause of hair loss is almost always related to hormonal changes. However, there are many other factors that can contribute to hair loss during menopause. These include extremely high levels of stress, illness, or a lack of certain nutrients.

Diagnostic blood tests that can help rule out other causes of hair loss include thyroid tests, and/or a complete blood count.

Hair loss may make you feel self-conscious about your physical appearance, but the condition isn’t permanent.

But don’t despair…

…There are treatments and products you can take and do to treat hair loss and improve the quality of your hair.

(Tip: We can help with any hair loss problems. Book a free consultation and find out how we can help YOU. Click here to book now)

There is nothing unusual about losing hair — we all shed an average of 100 hairs a day. Most of these, about 80 per cent, are lost when washing or brushing your hair; the rest will simply drift away throughout the day.

This will not affect your hair’s overall appearance because it is only a tiny percentage of the hairs on your head — as adults, we start out with up to 150,000. And importantly, more hairs are growing than are being shed.

However, millions of South African’s suffer from excessive hair loss, or alopecia, where they shed hair faster than it’s replaced or stop producing it altogether.

Poor nutrition is another potential contributing factor. There is research indicating that low levels of iron, vitamin D, some B vitamins and zinc are linked to hair loss. While typically not the main cause of your thinning mane, nutrient or vitamin deficiencies can make the problem worse, he says. Fixing your diet or taking supplements can help, but it’s often just one part of a multifaceted solution.

If clumps come out when you shower or you notice thinning in just a few weeks or months, you’re more likely dealing with another common condition called acute telogen effluvium. This rapid hair loss is basically a short-term ramping up of your hair’s normal shedding process.

Any event that puts a lot of stress on your body—like childbirth, surgery or rapid weight loss—can result in this alarming, clumpy hair loss, which tends to start a couple months after the event. The shedding can last for six months and may result in your losing up to 70% of your hair. But typically the hair can grow back.

More good advice…

Stay away from “miracle” cures marketed online or in late-night TV infomercials. They’re not the answer. Hair loss is such an emotionally charged experience and when you’re really upset, you’re willing to try anything.”

Time spent experimenting with different over-the-counter or infomercial products is often time (and money) wasted.

Does Dry Scalp Cause Hair Loss? Why is My Scalp Itchy?

Hair loss is usually caused by problems with the natural hair cycle, but it may also be linked to your scalp health.
One trigger is scalp ringworm, a fungal infection usually passed on by towels, brushes or sheets, which can cause scaly, bald patches.

Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition that leads to scaly, itchy plaques, can also cause hair loss.
It is treated with descaling preparations or occasionally coal tar, with steroids to reduce inflammation.

Though they don’t cause hair loss, conditions such as eczema and dermatitis can lead to the hair breaking because they irritate the scalp, prompting scratching.

The first thing to do is to identify any allergic cause — perhaps a preservative or fragrance in a hair product — and remove it.

What Are These Bald Patches On My Head? What Causes These Bald Patches?

Patchy Hair

Random bald spots on the scalp (or body) are known as alopecia areata. This is an auto-immune problem where the immune system attacks the hair follicle, causing inflammation and stopping the hair growth cycle.

The skin in these patches looks normal (unlike with scalp ringworm), though some patients report a tingling sensation. Alopecia areata affects up to 2 per cent of adults, typically those aged 15 to 29.

With diffuse alopecia areata, hair is shed all over the scalp, which is why it’s often confused with telogen effluvium, but it’s patchier. In some cases, the whole head is affected (alopecia totalis) and sometimes even the body (alopecia universalis).

Possible Causes: These forms of hair loss are thought to have a genetic link, and 20 per cent of those affected have a family history. It’s also associated with other auto-immune conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis.

Does An Over Active (Or Under Active) Thyroid Cause Hair Loss?

Thyroid disease causes your thyroid hormone levels to drop off or rise to unhealthy levels – and one possible effect of this imbalance is hair loss.

Hair loss is a common side effect of thyroid disease, but it’s not a permanent problem as long as you get the treatment you need.

How Do Thyroid Hormones Cause Hair Loss?
Your hair follicles follow a natural cycle of hair growth and resting phases. At any given time, most of your hair is growing while only a small portion of it is resting. But when changes in the body throw off that cycle, too much hair rests at one time and not enough grows, resulting in excessive hair loss, thinning hair, or balding.

Many medical conditions can cause hair loss, with thyroid disease a common culprit. Thyroid problems include both an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Because hair growth depends on the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, abnormal levels of thyroid hormone produced by this gland can result in hair changes, along with many other side effects, if left untreated.

When there is too much thyroid hormone, the hair on your head can become fine, with thinning hair all over the scalp. When there is too little of this hormone, there can be hair loss, not just on the scalp, but also anywhere on the body

Why Am I Losing Hair After Child Birth or During Pregancy?

Telogen effluvium is the excessive shedding of hair that occurs one to five months following pregnancy. This is not uncommon, as it affects somewhere between 40 to 50% of women; but like most changes during pregnancy, it is temporary.

Is there abnormal hair loss during pregnancy?

Hair loss that is connected to pregnancy usually occurs after delivery. During pregnancy, an increased number of hairs go into the resting phase, which is part of the normal hair loss cycle.

This condition is not serious enough to cause bald spots or permanent hair loss, and it should begin to diminish within 3-4 months after delivery. If you feel that you are experiencing unusual hair loss while you are pregnant, this may be due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Hair loss can be triggered by anything that involves a change in the estrogen hormone balance in your system.

So, there you have it….

You now have a better understanding of some of the causes of hair loss, than most other people. I hope you found the information I shared in this post helpful…

DHT and Hairloss

Dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT, causes 95% of all hair loss.

What I will be covering in this post…

What is DHT? What Causes DHT? How Do I Get Rid of DHT? What Does DHT Do?

DHT reduces hair follicles by shortening the Anagen phase and/or lengthening the Telogen phase. This causes the hair follicles to slowly shrink and die. The final result is an increased number of thin and fine hairs which are barely visible above the scalp.

For strong and healthy hair growth, DHT inhibiting is required once an increased amount of hair loss has occurred.

The association of DHT with androgen receptors in the scalp, skin and hair follicles appears to cause male and female baldness.

The sebaceous oil building up causes sebum. Sebum is collected in the hair follicle and becomes hard, causing a sebum plug that affects hair growth. This, compounded with existing weak hair, causes further reduction in hair growth.

However, there is good news…

Even with thinning or fine hairs, there is still life in the hair follicle and it can be repaired with a proven course of our Low Level Laser Therapy. This will provide your hair with proper nutrition, DHT blocking and good scalp hygiene.

(Note: Is hairloss a concern for you? – Stop worrying & take action today! We offer a 100% free “hair check” consultation service where you can ask questions and get free expert advice on all your hair loss questions. Book here now)

Effects of DHT

Hair is made in hair follicles which are like tiny pouches just under the skin surface. A hair normally grows from each follicle for about 3years. It is then shed and a new hair grows from the follicle.

This cycle of hair growth, shedding and new growth goes on throughout life.

The following occurs…

Affected hair follicles on the scalp gradually become smaller than normal.

As the follicle shrinks, each new hair is thinner than the previous one.

Before falling out, each new hair grows for much less time than the normal three years.

Eventually, all that remains is a much smaller hair follicle and a thin stump of hair that does not grow out to the skin surface.

Male hormones cause these changes. The level of the main male hormone, testosterone, is normal in men with baldness. Hair follicles convert testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone. Affected hair follicles become more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone, which causes the hair follicles to shrink. It is not clear why different follicles are affected at different times to make the balding process gradual.

Remember, DHT can be treated. If you are concerned about your hair loss, you need to take action before it is too late.